FL hospitals brace for Medicaid-related cutbacks

Gov. Rick Scott's controversial plan to overhaul the way Florida hospitals are compensated to treat the state's poorest and sickest residents—which could have cost the facilities some $1.7 billion next year—has failed to win backing from state lawmakers. But hospitals can still expect significant state cuts for their Medicaid care in the new budget year, with the House backing a plan to slash rates by 7 percent and the Senate unveiling a measure on Wednesday that could result in a 10 percent reduction.